Well tool



March 2, 1943. VF. w, APPLEBY WELL TOOL Filed Feb` l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorneys March 2, 1943. P W APPLEBY 2,312,789

WELL TOOL Filed Feb. l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ttomeysl Patented Mar.- 2, 1943 OFFICE] wan. 'root Y l Peter W. Appleby, Oilessmv'lex. Application February l, 1939, Serial No. 254,095V

' 4 claims. (ci. iss- 2m This invention relates to well tools, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will provide an efficient coupling for joining a drill bit with a drill stem used in'drilling oil, gas and similar wells and further provides a medium through which fluid under pressure in the drill stem may be discharged against walls of the well for cleaning them of loose particles and is especially useful after rshooting a well to remove debris from cavities in the walls formed by the explosion and which debris after being loosened from said cavities and collected at the bottom of the well may be removed ,simplyby applying the iluid pressure to the well casing and forcing such material upwardly through the bit, the present invention and the drill stem to the surface of the well.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a. well under construction'with a well casing or tubing therein and a drill stern and drill bit operating in the well casing and connected to each other through the use of the-present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional vie'w illustrating the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts of the present invention as when under the influence of uid pressure for the purpose of allowing the iluidpressure to escape through Y--side walls of the present invention toengage Walls of the well for freeing them of loose par-l ticles.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the upper end of the drill stem equipped with a closure cap having means thereinfor supporting a plug type valve element used in conjunction with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 45 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating a valve element forming a part oi the present invention and a yieldable sleeve used in conjunction therewith for the purpose of protecting an expansion spring.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating the expansion spring.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a wellwhich is under construc- 55 tion', that is, being drilled through the use of a drill bit 8 and a drill stem 1. the latter operating within a well casing 8, the well casing 8 having at itgupper end a'lclosure cap 9 equipped with a lluid pressure pipe I0 whichmay be connected to a fluid pressure source (not shown) in any well known manner. The cap 9 has a sliding fit with the drill stem 1, it being understood that the latter is of hollowformation so that iluid passing through the ports II of vthe'bit 6 may pass upwardly. through said stem and escape from the latter by a pipe I2 connected to a fitting I3 adapted tothe upper end of the stem. The fitting I3 lis in the form of a T coupling, one opening thereof .receiving the drill stem, another the .pipe I2 and another a closure cap or bull plug I4 in which are mounted vspring members I5 forming an outlet for the drill stem also may be connected to a fluid pressure source (not shown) when desiring to admit iluid pressure tothe drill stem for escape by way of the ports II in the bit 6 to the bottom of the well from where the pressure may rise inthe well casing and escape therefrom by the pipe I Il. Through the arrangement of the pipes IIl and I2 and their alternate connection with' the uid pressure source the flow of uidv pressure through the drill stem may be reversed as the drilling operations may require.

The Well 5 which is illustrated as being under construction has been shot forming therein the comparatively large cavities designated by the character A below the lower end of the well casing 8. These cavities always have loose particles which if not removed cause considerable trouble in drilling operations, such as causing the drill stem or bit to become stuck or wedged and many other interferences not thought necessary to be mentioned. Through the use of the present invention in combination with the drill stem 'l and the drill bit such particles within the cavities can be readily washed or flushed therefrom so that such particles will descend to the bottom of the well and may be forced upwardly through the ports of the drill bit, through the present invention, drill stem and outwardly therefrom by way of the pipe I2. I 'he present invention 2 l being indicated by the character B in entirety forms 'a coupling for joining the drill bit 6 to the drill stem 1 and permits the usual drilling operations with the drill bit to be carried out as well as permitting mud or other fluid pressure to be fed downwardly to the drill bit by way of the stem.

The present invention besides performing the foregoing functions may be successfully employed for allowing fluid pressure admitted to the drill stem to escape in a horizontal plane into the cavities A for freeing the cavities of loosened debris. A detail description of the specific construction of the present invention will now be A given.

l A cylindrical body 20 has its upper end internally screw threaded to receive the screw threaded end of a fitting 2I. The other end of the fitting is externally screw threaded to permit threading thereof into the drill stem 1. The other end of the body 2li has internal screw threads 22 to permit the drill bit or shank thereof to be threaded into the body 20. The body 20 has a passage therethrough also the fitting 2I so as to place the drill stem in direct communication with the ports of the drill bit.

A portion of the body 20 has an internal diameter larger than the other portion of said body to form a chamber 23 provided in opposite walls thereof with discharge ports 24 each of a tapered construction so that fluid pressure discharging therethrough will be directed horizontally from the body and in comparatively restricted streams.

Operating within the chamber 23 is a sleeve type valve element 25 including an enlarged medial portion 26 having a sliding fit with the walls of the chamber 23 and providing reduced end portions to the sleeve type valve. The end portions are indicated by the character 21 and are screw threaded. Cup-type washers 28 are mounted on the end portions 21 in pairs with the cups of each pair reversely arranged and spaced from each other by spacers 29 also having sliding contact with the walls of the chamber 23. Nuts 30 are threaded on the end portions 21 to retain the cups assembled on the sleeve type valve.

A washer 3| engages with the lower end of the sleeve type valve and carries projections 32 threaded in one end of a yieldable protecting sleeve 33, the other end of which has seating engagement with an internal shoulder in the body 20. The yieldable protecting sleeve 33 is constructed of rubber or any other material suitable for the purpose and has formed in its outer face a spiral groove 34 in which is located a spiral type expansion spring 35 acting to drive the sleeve type valve 25 upwardly in the chamber 23 for the purpose of closing the ports 24. The edges of the coil spring 35 are beveled to prevent cutting or chafing the protecting sleeve. The purpose of the protecting sleeve is to allow foreign matter to pass freely through the present invention without coming in contact or catching into the convolutions of the spring.

If desired, lead packing washers may be located between selected parts of the present invention if found necessary and also the nuts 3d may have sockets, as shown in the drawings, so that they may be easily actuated by a spanner type wrench.

Under normal drilling operations with the bit B the parts of the present invention are positioned as shown in Figure 2. The parts thus positioned close the ports 24 and the usual mud or other fluid furnished the bit 6 during the drilling operation may bel fed down through the stem 1 andthe present invention for escape by way of the ports I I in the drill bit. Thus it will be seen that the present invention can be successfully employed as-a coupling between the drill bit and the drill stem during normal drilling operation and when it is desired to remove debris and other foreign matter from the well or after the latter has been shot to form the cavities A, as shown in Figure l, the bull plug I4 is removed and the valve element I8 isl dropped downwardly in the drill stem 1 and comes to rest on the upper end of the sleeve type valve 25 closing the passage therethrough. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the drill stem 1 by way of the pipe l2 and this iiuid pressure forces the sleeve type valve 25 downwardly uncovering the ports 24 so that the fluid pressure may escape horizontally against the walls of the cavities to remove therefrom the loose particles for gravitation to the bottom of the well. After the cleaning of the cavities has been completed to the satisfaction of the operator, the fluid pressure is then reversed or applied to the upper end of the well casing so that it may pass upwardly through the ports II of the bit 6 carrying therewith the debris or small particles of mineral substances and through the body 20 of the present invention and upwardly through the drill stem carrying in advance thereof the valve element I6. As the latter is forced upwardly it enters the plug I4 which has been replaced and becomes engaged with the spring elements I5 thus trapping the valve element for easy removal when desired. The debris and other foreign matter passing up the drill stem escapes by way of the pipe I2. It is to be understood that as soon as the uid pressure is released in the drill stem after the cleaning of the cavity of the foreign matter, the spring 36 restores the valve element 25 to its initial position closing the ports 24. During the passing of the foreign matter through the present invention it is prevented from catching into or coming in any way in contact with the spring due to the protecting sleeve 33. The construction of this sleeve will readily collapse when suiiicient uid pressure is applied to the upper end of the sleeve valve, still forming a complete protector for the spring. It is to be understood that the valve element I6 may be removed from the drill stem after being retained in the plug I4 by the spring elements I5 by simply removing the plug I4 and expanding izlsie spring elements from the shouldered end It is apparent from the showing made in the drawings that any of the cup-shaped washers can be easily removed and renewed by others when worn due to the convenient way in which they are assembled on the valve element 25. Also, due

to the tting 2l any of the moving parts within the chamber 23 may be removed after the fitting 2I has been unthreaded from the body which will permit the spring to be renewed by another if necessary as well as the protecting sleeve 33.

A tool of the character described is compact, durable and eiiicient and may be manufactured and sold ata low cost, also it is extremely convenient to assemble the various parts thereof and to connect the device as a unit between the drill stem and drill blt so that it performs the function of a coupling between the drill stem and bit permitting these parts to Vfunction iny their normal way during the drilling operation.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A well tool comprising a body having a passage extending from end to end thereof and including means for joining thereto a drill stem and a bit and having oppositely arranged discharge ports in communication with the passage, a sleeve type valve slidable in said body for closing the ports and providing a free passage for fluid pressure through the body by way of the passage therein, an expansion spring engaging the valve for urging the latter into a position for closing the ports, a collapsible protecting sleeve carried by the valve and having external grooves to receive the spring to protect the latter from foreign material passing through the valve and passage of the body, and means for descending through the drill stem to close the sleeve valve to the passing of uid pressure therethrough and thereby bring about movement of the valve u-nder the iniluence of the fluid pressure to open the ports and permit the fluid pressure to cleanse walls of the well.

2. A well tool comprising a body having a passage extending from end to end thereof and including means for joining thereto a drill stem and a bit and having discharge ports in communication with the passage, a sleeve type valve for closing said ports and slidable in the body, a coil spring acting on said valve to urge the latter in a position for closing the ports, a collapsible protector sleeve having external grooves to receive the spring and movable therewith i-n the body and with said valve to protect the spring from foreign matter passing through the valve under the inuence of the uid pressure, cups removably mounted on the valve element to contact the walls of the body, and a weighted valve element for descending through the drill stem to close the iiow of fluid pressure through the valve thereby bring about movement of the valve under the influence of the uid pressure for opening the ports to permit the fluid pressure to escape against walls of the well for removing foreign matter therefrom.

3. In combination with a well tubing and a drill stem and bit operating therein, a body having a passage extending from end to end and inbit and having ports in communication with the passage, a sleeve-type valve for closing said ports slidable in the body, spring means for urging the valve into a position for closing the ports, a protecting sleeve for said spring means, a iitting applied to the stem and having a pipe connected thereto adapted to be connected to'a iuid pressure source, a cap removable from said fitting and arranged in direct alignment with the stem Vand including spring elements, a valve element having a shouldered end adapted to be gravitated through the valve stem by the removal of said cap for closing the sleeve valve to the passing of I uid pressure therethrough whereby on the replacement of the cap to said fitting and the application of fluid pressure to said stem will bring about movement of the valve to open the ports, said valve returning to port closing position and being relieved of iiuid pressure, means for admitting fluid pressure to the well casing to pass upwardly through the bit, valve element, body and drill stem carrying therewith and forcing the valve element into engagement with the spring element of the cap to be gripped and retained thereby.

4. In a device ovf the character described, the combination of awell casing and a drill stem and bit and means connected to said drill stem and casing to permit iiuid pressure to be admitted j to either the drill stem or the casing, a body coupling the drill stem and bit together and having discharge ports and a passage therethrough with' the ports in communication therewith, a spring inuenced valve member having a passage therethrough normally closing the ports and permitting iuid pressure in the drill stem to reach the bit and escape therefrom, and a valve element manually placed in the drill stem to gravitate against the valve member and close the passage thereof to permit the fluid pressure in the stem to force the valve member into a position of opening said ports and adapted to ascend in the drill st'em by iiuid pressure received from the well casing by way of the bit to permit said valve'member to close the ports, and means on said casing to permit placing of the valve element therein and for supporting said valve element when returned thereto by the uid pressurel received from the well casing through said-bit, body and drill stem.

PETER W. APPLE'BY.

y cluding means for joining thereto the stem andA v 

